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Discussion

Surgical/Trauma

Hi, I am looking to branch out in my career and learn more. I am looking at a surgical/trauma RN position and was wondering if someone could give me more insight to what that position actually entails?

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    • Admin

    Most likely this is an inpatient unit that takes surgical trauma patients. It's like a med/surg position for this particular patient population.

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    • Author

    Hi Rose, thank you so much for your response! I am interested in obtaining a position in the OR but can't seem to without OR experience. I have been a nurse for 5 years and have worked with post-acute population. Would obtaining a position in surgical/trauma be a good way to get my foot in the door? Based on your experience, which area would be the best route? I'm also considering endoscopy as a possible way to get my foot in the door. 

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    • Admin

    Honestly? There isn't much that will cross over to the OR. Whether one comes into the OR as a new grad or as a nurse with experience in another specialty, they get the same orientation. You may currently be seeing positions requiring experience simply because some facilities only hire new to the OR nurses a few times a year - mine coordinates with the times that schools typically graduate with set start dates in January and June, for December and May grads. So look for things that say OR fellowship or OR residency, because while you may think those are for new grads, they're actually for anyone without OR experience.

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    • Author

    Thank you so much for your insight! ?

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    My previous position was on an ortho/trauma unit. I have changed jobs and it is similar, but not as high acuity. 

    Old job-lots of MVC/MCC, GSW,chest tubes, trachs, TBI, rib fx and falls in the older population. We were the unit that the SICU fed into. 

    My current job, so far, is more ortho and less severe trauma, Some spine sx, ortho joint infections, etc. 

    Both hospitals are Level 1 trauma centers, one is teaching hosp and one isn't. I really loved the higher acuity position, but there was some restructuring that was going on and toxic manager at my old job so I was lucky that the other hosp had a position open that I was able to get hired into. 

    It is going to depend on the type of hosp. 

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